Seedless table grape (grapevine) named ‘ARRATWENTYTHREE’

ABSTRACT

A new distinct variety of grapevine named ARRATWENTYTHREE abundantly forms attractive meaty seedless berries with a dark red violet skin coloration; in dense medium-to-large clusters which display a naturally sweet flavor. The fruit commonly is ready for harvesting during August in San Joaquin Valley of Central California, U.S.A, and displays good eating qualities as a table grape. The fruit firmness renders the fruit well amenable for handling, shipping, and storage.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Vitis vinifera Grapevine.

Variety denomination: The new Grapevine has a varietal denomination ‘ARRATWENTYTHREE’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A breeding program was initiated during the late 90's near Bakersfield in San Joaquin Valley of Central Calif. In 2006, during this breeding program, a new variety of Vitis vinifera was created by deliberate cross breeding of two parent plants by emasculation of the pollen bearing organ of the female and introducing pollen from another male origin. The female parent of the new variety was ARRA RED. which is a mid-season red grape variety with thin skin and a natural flavor (non-patented in the United States). The male parent (i.e. the pollen parent) of the new variety was C102-26, a red fertile variety with a naturally sweet flavor (non-patented in the United States).

TABLE 1 ARRATWENTYTHREE compared with parents & closely related variety ARRATWENTYTHREE ARRA Red C102-26 Flame Seed Trace sterile large large small to none Bunches 48 42 32-40 28-36 per vine Berry Color Dark red violet red Dark red grayish red

The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows: ARRA RED X C102-26

An artificial pollination was created, and the result was an embryo which possessed unique genetic qualities. The rudiments resulting from the above pollination were embryo rescued.

In 2007 the plant was transplanted to Bakersfield in San Joaquin Valley of Central Calif.

It was found that the new grapevine of the present invention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) Forms attractive meaty seedless berries with a dark red         violet skin coloration; in dense medium-to-large clusters which         display a naturally sweet flavor,     -   (b) Commonly bears fruit during the month of August in the San         Joaquin Valley of Central Calif., U.S.A., and     -   (c) Bears fruit that is firm and is well amenable for storage,         handling, and shipping.

The new variety during observation to date has displayed no visible disease, and has displayed an ability to well resist cold, drought, heat; but sensitive to direct exposure to sun and wind. The fruit of the new variety has been found to display excellent handling and shipping qualities combined with desirable dessert eating qualities.

The new variety of the present invention has been found to undergo asexual propagation beginning in 2008 near Bakersfield in the San Joaquin Valley of Central Calif., U.S.A. by bud grafting on mature Thompson rootstock (non-patented in the United States). Such asexual propagation has been conducted thereafter in successive years to date and has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are strictly transmissible from one generation to another. Accordingly, the new variety undergoes asexual propagation in a true to type manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety ARRATWENTYTHREE is a medium size, dark red violet seedless table grape with a high production, e.g., about 48 bunches per vine, and an average of about one to two bunches per shoot.

Asexual reproduction by micro propagation of the new variety as performed near Bakersfield, Calif., U.S.A., shows that the forgoing and other distinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens of vegetative growth of six-year-old specimens of the new variety, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a color illustration of this character. Colors in the photograph may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description below, which accurately describes the colors of the new Grapevine.

FIG. 1 shows leaves, stems and grapes of ‘ARRATWENTYTHREE’

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of the ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY (3^(rd) Edition). The description is based on the observation of plants growing on ‘Thompson Seedless’ rootstock outdoors near San Joaquin Valley of Central California, U.S.A.

-   -   -   Vigor.—Vigorous upright shoots.         -   Productive capacity.—Bearing at a natural, average capacity.             Spur pruning.         -   Trunk.—Strong and developed. Diameter is 2.8″ at 11″ above             ground. Rough with a fibrous, shaggy exterior. Light maple             brown coloring (grayed orange 165 A).

-   Time of bud burst: March 7^(th) in Bakersfield, Calif.

-   Young shoot:     -   -   Openness of tip.—Wide open.         -   Prostrate hairs on tip.—Sparse.         -   Anthocyanin coloration of prostrate hairs on tip.—Strong.         -   Erect hairs on tip.—Absent or very sparse.

-   Young leaf:     -   -   Color of upper surface of blade.—Yellow green 152B.         -   Color of lower surface of blade.—Yellow green 152C.         -   Prostrate hairs between main veins on lower side of             blade.—Sparse.         -   Erect hairs on main veins on lower side of blade.—Absent or             very sparse.

-   Shoot:     -   -   Color of shoot.—Yellow green 144B.         -   Attitude (before tying).—Erect.         -   Color of dorsal side of internodes.—Yellow green 144B.         -   Color of ventral side of internodes.—Yellow green 152B.         -   Color of dorsal side of nodes.—Yellow green 144C.         -   Color of ventral side of nodes.—Yellow green 144A.         -   Erect hairs on internodes.—Absent or very sparse.         -   Length of tendrils.—Medium, average length of 11.5 cm.         -   Color of tendrils.—Yellow green 146 C.         -   Number of tendrils.—6.

-   Flower:     -   -   Sexual organs.—Fully developed stamens and fully developed             gynoecium.         -   Size.—Average 0.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence type.—Compound raceme.

-   Mature leaf:     -   -   Size of blade (inches).—Very small (5.5″×5″).         -   Shape of blade.—Wedge-shaped.         -   Blistering of upper side of blade.—Weak.         -   Number of lobes.—Five.         -   Depth of upper lateral sinuses.—Medium.         -   Arrangement of lobes of upper lateral sinuses.—Closed.         -   Arrangement of lobes of petiole sinus.—Wide open.         -   Length of teeth.—Short.         -   Ratio length\width of teeth.—Small.         -   Shape of teeth.—Both sides straight.         -   Proportion of main veins on upper side of blade with             anthocyanin coloration.—High.         -   Prostrate hairs between main veins on lower side of             blade.—Sparse.         -   Erect hairs on main veins on lower side of blade.—Sparse.         -   Length of petiole compared to length of middle vein.—Much             shorter.         -   Top side color.—Green 137 C.         -   Bottom side color.—Yellow green 146 C.         -   Upper side textures.—Smooth.         -   Lower side texture.—A little rough.         -   Vein color.—Yellow-green 146 D.         -   Petiole length.—2″.         -   Petiole diameter.—0.08″.         -   Petiole color.—Yellow green 152A.         -   Leaf margin.—Doubly Serrate.         -   Leaf apex.—Cuspidate.

-   Reproductive organs: Stamen.     -   -   Color.—Yellow-green 144-A.         -   Size.—0.17″.

-   Time of beginning of ripening: August 15^(th) in Bakersfield, Calif.

-   Bunch:     -   -   Average bunch length.—9.5 inches.         -   Average bunch diameter.—5.5 inches.         -   Density.—Medium.         -   Length of peduncle of primary bunch.—2.55 inches.         -   Average bunch weight.—1.5 lbs.         -   Fruit bunch shape.—cylindrical-conic alated.

-   Berry:     -   -   Size.—Medium.         -   Length.—1.09 inches.         -   Weight.—0.25 oz.         -   Diameter.—0.89 inches.         -   Shape.—Globose.         -   Color of skin (without bloom).—Red 53A.         -   Color of fruit flesh.—Yellow green 145C.         -   Ease of detachment from pedicel.—Moderately easy.         -   Thickness of skin.—Thick.         -   Anthocyanin coloration of flesh.—Strong.         -   Firmness of flesh.—Very firm.         -   Particular flavor. Sweet.         -   Formation of seeds.—None.         -   Market use of observed plant.—Fresh market.         -   Berries per bunch.—100.

-   Pedicle characteristics:     -   -   Length (inches).—0.25.         -   Color.—Green 137C.

-   Woody shoot:     -   -   Main color.—Greyed orange 164A.

-   Age and growing conditions: Six years growing under Y system in     South Joaquin Valley (hot, dry summers).

SHIPPING CHARACTERISTICS

(E.g. number of days fruit has been stored under specific conditions):

Fruit was in cold storage. Stored in poly bags inside Styrofoam boxes with sulfur pads. After 60 Days: rachises were 75% green; 2% berry shuttering; no berry wrinkling or cracks were apparent.

DNA PROFILE

To further the characterize the new variety DNA was extracted from plant samples and a DNA profile was obtained at California Seed & Plant Lab, California USA using base pairs for 10 standard microsatellite DNA markers. The data is presented hereafter.

TABLE 2 DNA profile for ‘ARRATWENTYTHREE’ Microsatellite DNA Marker Allele Sizes in Base Pairs M1 232 236 M2 249 249 M3 179 185 M4 212 214 M5 251 273 M6 133 151 M7 187 201 M8 251 255 M9 212 214  M10 237 271

The ARRATWENTYTHREE variety has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions.

Additional information relating to plant and fruit disease and pest resistance or susceptibility has not been observed to date. Specification of the plant hardiness zone and the heat/cold resistance has not been observed to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct grapevine, botanically known as Vitis vinifera, identified as ‘ARRATWENTYTHREE’, substantially as shown and described herein. 